Franklin Alton Wade facts for kids
Franklin Alton Wade (born 1903, died 1978) was an American geologist. Geologists study the Earth, including its rocks and landforms. Franklin Wade was very interested in the land of Antarctica. He traveled there many times. Twice he went with a famous explorer named Admiral Richard E. Byrd.
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Early Life and Education
Franklin Wade was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1903. He went to Kenyon College in Ohio. In 1926, he earned two degrees at once. These were a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts. After college, he worked briefly as a chemist. Then, he decided to study more. He joined a PhD program at Johns Hopkins University.
Exploring Antarctica
First Expeditions
Wade joined Admiral Richard E. Byrd's second trip to Antarctica in 1933. While there, he went on a long sled journey. This trip lasted 77 days. They explored a place called Marie Byrd Land. The information he gathered helped him write his PhD paper.
Admiral Byrd later chose Wade to be the main scientist for his third trip to Antarctica. On this trip, Wade brought two students with him. He liked to bring students on his expeditions. He continued this practice on later trips.
Later Antarctic Work
Wade was a geologist on several important Antarctic missions:
- Byrd Antarctic Expedition (1933-35)
- Senior scientist at West Base of the U.S. Antarctic Service (1939-41)
- Leader of two Texas Tech Shackleton Glacier Parties (1962-63 and 1964-65)
- Senior Scientist for the U.S. Antarctic Research Program Marie Byrd Land Survey (1966-67 and 1967-68)
Naming Mountains
As the leader of the Texas Tech Shackleton Glacier Party in 1962–63, Wade named several mountains and ridges in Antarctica.
- Cathedral Peaks (84°44′S 175°40′W / 84.733°S 175.667°W): This is a group of rugged mountains. Wade thought they looked like the spires of a cathedral. He saw them from the Shackleton Glacier.
- Lubbock Ridge (84°52′S 175°25′W / 84.867°S 175.417°W): This is a high ridge about 5 kilometers (3 miles) long. It ends in a steep cliff near the Shackleton Glacier. Wade named it after Lubbock, Texas. This is where Texas Tech University is located.
- Mount Kenyon (85°10′S 174°52′W / 85.167°S 174.867°W): This mountain is 2,260 meters (7,415 feet) high. It stands near Shenk Peak. Wade named it after Kenyon College in Ohio. He had attended this college almost 30 years before his expedition.
Teaching and Research
While working on his PhD, Wade taught geology at the University of Delaware. In 1936, he took a similar teaching job at Miami University in Ohio. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1937.
Later, he became the head of the Geology department at Texas Tech University. However, he left this position in 1964. He wanted to spend more time doing active research in Antarctica. His replacement, Richard Maddox, once said that Wade felt paperwork and meetings were a waste of time. He preferred teaching and research.
Legacy
Franklin Wade passed away from a heart attack on October 1, 1978. Two weeks later, Congressman George H. Mahon honored Wade. He spoke about Wade's achievements to the United States House of Representatives. He praised Wade's "enthusiasm for life, his Christian dedication and his youthful spirit."
A mountain in Antarctica, Mount Wade, is named after him. The explorer Roald Amundsen first discovered it in 1911. Mount Wade is the tallest peak in the Prince Olav Mountains. It stands at 4,085 meters (13,402 feet) high.
